Corcomroe Abbey

This was a Cistercian house known as "The Abbey of St. Mary of the Fertile Rock"

It was founded by King Donal Mor O'Brien in 1182. A well-preserved church, the chancel has a vaulted roof and clustered columns, whilst the capitals bear floral designs. The recumbent effigy of King Conor O'Brien is recessed into the west wall of the chancel.

Location

Corcomroe Abbey is located 4 miles (6.4 km) from Ballyvaughan village.

The Legend of the Hag of Loughrask

On an August morning in the year 1317 A.D. Donnchadha O'Brien was marching with his army to do battle with Turlough O'Brien. Passing by the Lake Loughrask, approximately half a mile to the east of Ballyvaughan village, he noticed a strange old woman by the lake. Looking closely, he noticed she was a hideous hag with dripping eyes, hair of thatch and stubby beard. Beside her was a cairn of heads and a pile of arms and legs which she washed and rinsed many times before throwing them aside in all directions.

Donnchadha called on her for her name. "I am Thee Dismal of Burren" she replied, "of the Thuatha De Dannan, and this carnage signifies your army's heads and your own Donnchadha in the middle. Proudly you go into battle but soon you and your army will be slain."

The Chieftains would have killed her on the spot but she flew into the air and disappeared after prophesying their total destruction. Prince Donnchadha, however , treated her words more lightly, saying to his frightened officers that "she was surely friendly to the enemy, who had sent her to frighten and dismay them". Donnchadha immediately gave the orders to march. The battle which soon followed on the ridge of the mountain west of Corcomroe Abbey, five miles east of Ballyvaughan, was the bloodiest ever fought in Thomond. It ended as the hag had foretold, with the total annihilation of Donnchadha and his army.